Irlam Councillor, Roger Jones, insisted at yesterday's full meeting of Salford City Council that Peel Holdings should be "forced" to open the Barton Lifting Bridge.

Salford and Trafford Council are currently in the midst of a legal battle with Peel over who will assume liability for the bridge which collapsed last year during construction: "Who on earth would take liability for that bridge...it's madness?" said Councillor Jones, again accusing Peel of holding the authorities to ransom.

The controversy over who pays for the new Barton Lifting Bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal continued at yesterday's full meeting of Salford City Council, with Irlam Councillor, Roger Jones, saying that Peel Holdings should be 'forced' to open it.

The Bridge, next to the M60 flyover at Barton, and part of the Western Gateway Infrastructure Scheme, or WGIS, subsidised with over £30million of public money, has been at the centre of a legal wrangle over who pays for its operation and maintenance.

Peel is insisting that Salford Council and Trafford Council should pay, while the authorities believe Peel should take responsibility. Meanwhile, there's currently a legal stalemate with the bridge due to open within the next couple of weeks and residents complaining about constant congestion.

"We're in a position where that road next week could open and the lifting bridge, but Peel have said at the eleventh hour 'We would like Trafford and Salford to pay...We want you to pay towards the maintenance of the structure of that bridge and towards the opening and closing of the bridge'" explained Councillor Jones, who is also Salford's Lead Member for Transport.

"The public have seen that bridge collapse once; who on earth would take liability for that bridge and the structure of it?" he asked "It's madness but Peel have raised it at the eleventh hour, with four or five weeks to go and, in effect, they are holding us to ransom because they're saying to Salford and Trafford 'If you don't pay up we're not opening the bridge'. Now I think that's scandalous.

"If that bridge doesn't open next week, then I hope that the powers that be in here and in Greater Manchester will do their level best to force Peel to open that bridge" he told the Salford Council meeting "That bridge wasn't just built with Peel money, it was built with public money as well, and the public have the right to get that bridge open."

Responding, Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, confirmed that Salford Council lawyers had become involved, and that he had met Peel's representatives the night before and asked them to open it "as soon as they possibly can"...

"What I'm being told is that works will be completed within the next week or two" he added "I'm fully committed to getting that bridge open as quick as possible to tackle congestion on our roads."

For a full background see previous related Salford Star articles...

Salford Council Held To Ransom By Peel Holdings Over New Ship Canal Bridge – click here

YET AGAIN ANOTHER TOTAL DISASTER PLAN FROM PEEL!!! THE AMOUNT OF LOCAL TRAFFIC THAT USE THE M57 TO GET TO THE M60 AND BEYOND I DARE SAY ARE FED UP TO THE BACK TEETH OF ALL THE CONGESTION AND DELAYS. IT CAN TAKE 45 MINUTES AT THE MOMENT TO DO A 12-15 MINUTE JOURNEY. PEEL HAVE THE ODDEST IDEAS PLUS THEY ARE BADLY EXECUTED!!!! WILL THIS PLAN MAKE TRAFFIC AND EASIER......I DOUBT IT VERY MUCH.

Peter bloor wroteat 2:06:43 AM on Friday, December 8, 2017

Simple do not open it .Do not give peel planning permission for anything in Salford or Manchester ever again Iam sure there are other companies who will be willing to take their place.
Peel are the most disposed company in the area.

Martin Farrell wroteat 2:32:32 AM on Thursday, November 23, 2017

After seeing the A57 flooded this morning with the 1st heavy rain since the new part of the road opened, the bridge is the least of our worries. You may not be able to get to the bridge without a boat. The whole project has been a disaster, I am yet to come across someone who thinks directing traffic towards the Trafford centre is a good idea. What happened to the road and rail links being completed before opening new warehouses? The rail link has not even started. It's about time our spineless councillors stood up to peel and started to represent the people of Irlam and cadishead. Everything peel say they will do they go back on, or try to change later in their favour. It's in now time for the council to stop all dealings with peel and stop all further development by peel in Salford.

Arnold Rimmer wroteat 7:04:47 AM on Wednesday, November 22, 2017

There shouldn't be a need to sort anything out...if you buy a new car, I shouldn't have to get you to sign a contract saying that I'm not going to wash it for you.

James wroteat 11:49:42 AM on Monday, November 20, 2017

Common sense needs to prevail here!
If Peel want to hold the tax paying peoples who travel in and out of Trafford Park/Centre/Irlam/Eccles/M60 to ransom, in the form of keeping the bridge shut until they get what they want.......then the councils should fight fire with fire and suspend all planning permits in Salford and Trafford until such a time as this is resolved to the tax payers satisfaction.
We cannot allow big business to bully the little person any longer. It has been a number of years since I travelled to work without a huge traffic jam caused by Peel and their cronies.
Enough is Enough

Mike W wroteat 4:08:01 PM on Saturday, November 18, 2017

Typical Salford council half asleep until the last minute. Why was this not sorted out in advance?

Dave Probert wroteat 11:26:26 AM on Friday, November 17, 2017

Peel wanted to build the bridge and build on the land so they Should take over the cost of support for the Bridge. They have held Salford to Ransom over other projects, this time they can whistle.

John Davies wroteat 11:26:22 AM on Friday, November 17, 2017

Every one is blaming each other, I blame the person or persons who drew up the planning for this to go ahead, that the maintenance and manning of the bridge should have been put into the agreement before construction ever started, so them who planned the project should resign because they failed in there duty to the people of the local area. Salford and Trafford Council should not allow Peel Holdings any future planning permission until they take full control of the maintenance and up keep of this bridge, They didn’t have this trouble building the Bridge further up the road in Eccles.

retired Socalist wroteat 11:57:37 PM on Thursday, November 16, 2017

Roger old man
Would it be in the Public interest to let us see the contract or will it be tucked in the draw with the Stadium one?

Dave wroteat 11:57:34 PM on Thursday, November 16, 2017

Cllr Jones is probably right.The agreement they have most likely says what he says it says. Perhaps Salfords liability is just to pay for the road surface that goes over the bridge. When it wears out, Salford and Trafford will resurface it. So , if Peel only open it once a week, or leave it in the up position, then no cars and trucks will go over it. It will never wear out. It will save a fortune in road maintainance, perhaps the money they save on maintaining the bridge roadway can be spent on our other crappy roads.Well done Salford Council, at least they are trying to save money at last.

bob wroteat 11:57:28 PM on Thursday, November 16, 2017

Pound to a pinch of shit, Peel will be the winners. Peel and it's boss are no fools. Peel will not waste twopence of their money with the lawyers unless they know they are going to win. We all know who wastes millions of other peoples money without batting an eyelid. Will Cllr Jones show his arse on the town hall steps if Peel win? I will show mine if they loose. The balls in Peels court, the bridge can stay closed, or forever in the up position. Salford council have to make the first move.Another cock up. Vote Labour.

Bob wroteat 11:55:58 PM on Thursday, November 16, 2017

Me again. That picture of the four councilors. A cracker, they should call it "The Four Pillars of Wisdom"

The Mayor of London pulled out of the Garden Bridge project on who foots its maintenance. I suggest the Salford Labour Mayor gives him a call for advice.

Roger Jones wroteat 11:47:12 AM on Thursday, November 16, 2017

Shirley, yours is a good story but is not based on facts or legal opinion.
In all cases there is overwhelming evidence against Peel.
In a letter to Peel from the Council it is set out very clearly that Salford would adopt the highway but not the bridge structure.

Shirley Jones wroteat 8:48:26 AM on Thursday, November 16, 2017

No Roger. What is madness Cllr. Jones is why this glaringly obvious vital but very basic issue was not dealt with before planning permission and copious funding was granted to them in the first place! How did even Salford Council officers and Councillors miss that one? Blatantly very basic stupid errors that should never have been allowed to occur. No doubt Peel laughing all the way to the bank as per! Peel however know Salford Council, its Officers and its Councillors very well (or is that the reason why?), as we know to our cost! And now more cost to Salford Citizens, as no doubt we're going to have to pay the cost of said 'legal battle' to rectify Salford Councils errors! Doesn't surprise me in the least. This is Salford Council after all. Same old!

Rachel wroteat 6:13:52 AM on Thursday, November 16, 2017

Suspend his planning permission for Port Salford and Trafford Waters until he opens the bridge. Miserable old zombie!!